The J. M. Smucker Company, Orrville, Ohio, said it agreed to purchase Sahale Snacks, Inc., a private, Seattle-based manufacturer of Sahale Snacks® premium nut and fruit snacks.

Officials say Sahale's net sales are projected to be approximately $50 million for the 2014 calendar year, primarily in the club, convenience, and grocery retail channels.  The acquisition includes a leased facility in Seattle and will add approximately 150 employees.  The transaction, which is expected to close by the middle of September, is not anticipated to have a material impact on Smucker’s fiscal 2015 financial results.

"This is an exciting acquisition and an excellent strategic fit for our company," says Paul Smucker Wagstaff, president, U.S. Retail Consumer Foods.  "The addition of the Sahale Snacks premium lifestyle brand, and its portfolio of innovative and on-trend products, provides an established platform for growth in the snacking space."

Eric Eddings, Sahale's CEO, adds, "Sahale Snacks co-founders, Josh Schroeter and Edmond Sanctis, and I are proud to join the Smucker family and we look forward to the continued growth of the Sahale Snacks brand as we maintain our focus on our mission of bringing ‘Beyond Ordinary’ snacking to consumers' daily lives."

Sahale has been a portfolio company of a private equity fund affiliated with Palladium Equity Partners, LLC since 2007.

 Smucker is a leading marketer and manufacturer of fruit spreads, retail packaged coffee, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings, sweetened condensed milk, and natural foods products in North America. Its family of brands includes Smucker's®, Folgers®, Dunkin' Donuts®, Jif®, Crisco®, Pillsbury®, Eagle Brand®, R.W. Knudsen Family®, Hungry Jack®, Café Bustelo®, Café Pilon®, truRoots®, White Lily®, and Martha White® in the United States, along with Robin Hood®, Five Roses®, Carnation®, and Bick's® in Canada.